Repeating multipole selector relays



June 11. 1957 L c. PERK|Ns.. ETAL 2,795,773

REPEATIG uL'rIPoLE SELECTOR RELAYS Filed nay 16, 1952 INVENTOR. 590V 0. PEM/W5 FPA/VUM' p. ,ary/vanaf iwan/M United States Patent() REPEATING MULTIPOLE SELECTOR VRELAYS LeroyC. Perkins and Francis D.,Re`ynoltls., Seattle, Wash., asslgnors to Boeing-Airplane Company, Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Delaware Application May 16, 1952-, SerialNo. 2885254 9 Claims. (Cl. 340-147) This invention relates to sequentially selective switching devices for remote control or automatic relay applications and more particularly concerns a device permitting rapid independent control of a plurality of circuits or elements through a common communication channel, such as a radio-frequency carrier channel or a single set of electrical conductors. The invention is'hperein illustratively described byr reference to the preferred form thereof, which was devised for the remote control ofya plurality of electrically operated units-in toy vehicles, such as boats, trains, airplanes, etc. It will be understood, however, that the invention has various .diverse applications and that a number of modications` and variations as to details of Vconstruction and operation may be made without departing from the underlying principles involved to which the appended claims'are directed. I

A typical remote relaying system for incorporation of the present selector relay includes a receiving station havinga plurality ot-circuitsor elements requiring independent selective contro1,-a remote transmitting station incorporating a suitable primary control apparatusffor generating selective control impulses in a form by which the individual impulses may be identified from each other, and a communication link for transmitting the selective control impulses to the receiving station,` wherein the selector relay device is installed for operating the individual circuits or elements on the basis ofthe control. impulses received. For present purposes the nature of the communication link, i. e., whether it be a single set of electrical conductors, a radio carrier channel or other medium of communication is immaterial. The number or nature of the plurality of circuits or elements controlled by the selector relay at the receiving station in accordance with the transmitted impulses, are likewise factors of secondary import. The same is true with respect to the choice of apparatus as the transmitting stationforgeneratingthe desired control impulses, and the particular means by which such 4impulses areimade distinguishable.-l ForA each of these purposes or functions conventional Vtechniques or devices may be employed as will/hereinafter more fully appear, which require no particular-description in this specication. In its presentlyillustrated.and'preferred form, the improved selector relay deviceoperates on the-principle of rotary timing membersin the two stations which members are driven andmaintained in synchronism by suitable synchronizing signals transmittedoverl a communication link. Preferably 'one-of these rotary timingemembers is driven by a progressivesteppingmotoncr the like, which is energized by a recurring trainof electrical-impulses generated and transmitted by progressive rotary movement of the rotar-y timingmember--inY the other station so as to maintain` the two members instep at all times. It is immateriatwhichof .the two stations generates and-transmits the synchronizing impulses andalso as -to the manner Vin :whichl phasingor co-indexing .of the two rotary timing.members'is initially established or is subsequently preceding condition.

restored if lost duringI operation of the system'. In this connection4 there exist a variety of automatic self-synchronizing devices including selsyn systems and various forms of' stepping mechanisms common to telemetering, telephony and other allied arts which could be used for synchronizing-the timing members. These and other aspects of a system of that type are or may be-conventional hence require noI particular description herein.

The-improved selector relay device includes a plurality of independently operated switch elements or the like which control different respective circuits or devices in the receiving station of such a system. These switch elements lare operated (actuated or deactuated) in predetermined sequential order, by the presence or absence oft-ransmitted control impulses dur-ing different portions ofthe 4timingmembers rotation cycle. In other words, the total rotation cycle is divided in to a plurality of parts each corresponding to an individual switch element in the relay dev-ice. If, as the timing member rotates throughfeach such portion of its cycle, a control impulse is -r-eceived by the device thefassociated switch element willy be actuated,` whereas if no such impulse is then received, the switch element will either remain unactuated or- `will be deactuated, depending upon its immediately Moreover, each such switch element is caused to remain in its position of actuation or deactuation during the ensuing cycle of the rotative timing member. By employing synchronized timing membe`rs-which-rotate rapidly, the minimum duration of the `period-inwhich any particular switchfelement is required toI remain -in a given position may be made very short, whereas the maximum duration of the `period during which aparticular positionV may be maintained is unlimited assuming the condition of the system with respect Vto the presence or absence of the cor-responding control impulse remains unchanged during continuedlrotation of lthe timing members.

An object of the invention is a selector relay device of thetnature indicated which may be made in very simple, compact and inexpensive form for theA purposes indieated,.as well as others.

Another object is such` a device capable of rapid selective control of a plurality of independent circuits or devicesfin accordance with electric signal impulses appliedfin recurring sequential manner to such device.

Still another object is such a relay device having a positive holding action which insures maintenance of theaactuatedor unactuated position of eachswitch element therein during the periods between opportunity for cha-nge of position'of such. element.

A further and related object isa selector relay. device of the type indicated which is readily constructed with any `desired number of individual switch` elements so as to enable controlling anyV desired number of independent circuits or devices thereby.

Inzbroad term-s the multipole 4selector relay. means comprises-.a plurality of switch elements larranged Iin series lrelationship, an electrically energizable actuating dev1ce movable alongy the series of switch elements for actuating any1-.such element past which the device is moving at the instantfot` energization thereof, means holding the actuated `switch elements in actuated positions against the force of'resilient means or the like tending to urge such elements into their 11n-actuated positions, and` release means` associated with the holding means and movable with the actuating means. The release means permits release` from 4such holdingmeans yof -any switch element in actuated position at the instant such element is being passedv lby the moving actuating means provided the latter isunenergized at the time, so as not to require continued actuation lof the particular element.

Inglthe ,.rst preferred` form as herein described, the

switch actuating means comprising a magnetic ux concentrator which rotates with a circular plate having an opening or notch in its edge adjacent the concentrator, and the switch elements comprise resilient arms located at intervals about the periphery of the circular plate and disposed to project radially inwardly thereof along one side of such plate in the unactuated positions of the switch arms. A magnetic induction coil in the device provides magnetic ux through the flux concentrator at selected times during rotation of the concentrator and notched plate to deflect the instantaneously adjacent switch arm through the notch to the opposite side of the plate where it remains and slides during the remaining portion of the total rotation cycle. If upon completion of ysuch rotation cycle the magnetic induction coil is again energized, the same switch arm is compelled to remain in its actuated position, whereas it is permitted to drop back freely through the notch to its unactuated position if no such energization occurs at that time. Thus the circular plate functions as a positive barrier or holding device functioning to maintain each switch arm in its position of actuation or deactuation `at all times except when the ux concentrator and plate notch are passing the switch arm, when its position may be changed in accordance with the presence or absence of an energizing impulse applied to the magnetic induction coil.

In the second preferred general form herein described the switch arms, mounted in circular series arrangement, are disposed in parallel relationship, and the notched annular plate is of cylindrical form rather than flat circular form.

These and other features, -objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully evident from the following detailed description thereof by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 lis a perspective View of the selector relay device.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken through the axis of the device.

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view illustrating certain details of a modified form.

Figure 4 is a vertical view taken through the axis of a second modified form of the invention.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 a rotary shaft 10 of ferromagnetic material is journaled in a lower hub portion 12 of the ferromagnetic cylindrical casing 12. The casing contains an induction coil 14 surrounding the shaft and electrically energizable through conductors 16 to set up an axial component of magnetic flux in the shaft. The ferromagnetic casing 12 provides a toroidal path for the magnetic flux entering one end of the shaft and leaving the opposite end thereof. However, the upper side or end of the cylindrical casing 12 has a large central opening 18 therein constituting an annular air gap interposed in the toroidal flux path.

A radial ferromagnetic arm 20 xed upon the upper end of the shaft 10 at a location `somewhat above the air gap 18 acts as a flux concentrator bridging over this air gap. Preferably, however, the radial length of the arm 20 is somewhat less than the radial width of the air gap 18.

A plurality of switch arms 22a, 22b, 22e, etc., are mounted upon an insulating support'24 surrounding the upper end portion of the casing 12. Of ferromagnetic material and tempered for resilience, these flat and elongated yswitch arms, located in angular-ly spaced relationship about the annular member 24, project radially inwardly over the air gap 18 to lie beneath the path of rotation of the flux concentrator arm 20 as the latter turns with the shaft 10. The switch arms are held rmly in place by an `insulating clamping ring 24' and machine screws 26 threaded through the ring Iand the individual switch arms, and down into the insulating block 24 which in turn is rigidly secured by suitablemeans tothe housing 12. The outer ends of the switch arms 22a, 22b, 22o,

etc., designated 22a', 22b, 22C', etc., respectively, serve as electric terminals or soldering lugs by which the electrical conductors C may be connected to the respective arms.

A conductive circular plate 28 is fixedly mounted upon the upper end of the `shaft 10 immediately beneath the tlux concentrator arm 20. The radius of this plate is approximately equal to the radial length of the arm 20, although its exact `dimension is not particularly critical. The important factor is that the inner or projecting ends of the switch arms lap slightly under the circular plate 2S in the relaxed or undeected positions of the switch arms (Figure 2). The thickness of the circular plate is reduced by a step in its upper face occurring at a radius slightly less than the radius to the inner ends ofthe switch arms. This step 28 leaves a space 30 between the lower side of the concentrator arm 2t? and the stepped upper side of the plate 28.

When the ferromagnetic arm 20 is located immediately -above or adjacent a particular switch arm, `such as the arm 22a in Figures 1 and 2, and voltage is applied to the induction coil 14, the resultant concentration of magnetic flux in the arm 20 attacts the switch arm 22a into the space 30 above the circular plate 28. A notch 32 lin the edge of the plate permits upward ydeflection of the switch arm to the ux concentrator arm 20 `as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2. If the switch arm is magnetically held in this deflected position for a moment as the shaft 1t) rotates the notched portion of the plate 28 out of registry with the switch arm, then removal of energization from the induction coil 14 will not be effective to return the arm by its own resilience back into its unactuated or relaxed position shown by solid lines in the same figure. Instead the Iarm will come to rest upon the upper face of the circular plate 28 and will `slide thereon as the plate continues to rotate.

If the magnetic induction coil 14 remains unenergized as the liux concentrator arm 20 and the notch 32 pass over a dilerent switch arm, 22n for example (Figure l), the latter will rem-ain in its unactuated or relaxed position beneath the plate 28.

If, on the other hand, the magnetic flux concentrator larm 20 and the notch 32 advance into registry with a switch element riding on top of the plate 28 and the magnetic induction coil 14 is then unenegized, that particular fswitch element will snap resiliently down through the notch 32 into its normal or unactuated position.

Still again, if the magnetic induction coil 14 happens to be energized by a voltage impulse when the latter position of registry is reached it will be obvious that the actuated position of the particular switch arm will be continued for another complete cycle of rotation of the shaft 10.

The conductive plate 28 constitutes a common ground terminal for all of the switch arms 22a, 22b, 22C, etc. The individual switch arms are out of contact with the plate 28 as long as they remain in their unactuated or relaxed positions. However, they are held steadily in contact with the plate during a full cycle of rotation thereof when actuated by the electrically energizable magnetic means comprising the coil 14 and the ux concentrator 20. In order to expedite actuation and deactuation of the individual switch elements, the reduced portion of the circular Ydisk 28 is made as thin as possible soas to minimize the tact upon switch actuation.

The casing 12 is provided with suitable mounting anges 34. The lower end of shaft 10 carries a large gear 36 which meshes with a small pinion 38 driven by a stepping motor device-40. The latter deviceimay be energized by electricalfimpulses applied through electrical conductors 16' in order to cause the shaft 10, hencefthe flux concentrator varm 20 and the notched plate to rotatetprogressively lby angular increments each equal to or a submultiple of the spacing-between successive switch arms 22a, 22h, 22C, etc.

Thus the shaft constitutes a rotary timing member which Vmay be synchronized with a similar timing membergin a-remote station through a communication channel including the conductors 16'. The channel conductors 16 then-afford a means of receiving selective control impulses applicable to the induction coil 14 in the different vstopping points or points of registry of the flux concentrator 20 and the barrier plate opening 32 with the respect1ve switch arms. Electric circuits or other devices may then be independently controlledby their respective switch elements 22a, 22h, 22e, etc., of which there may be any desired number provided.

In Figure `3 a fragmentary portion of a modified device is illustrated` in order to show an alternativeY type of switch element. The switch arm 22a, similar in other respects to the arm 22a, in Figure 2, for example, carries on rits upper side a switch contact 22a. Another resilient switch arm 22A mounted above the arms 22a carries a simil-ar contact 22A` beneath its projecting end overlying the contact 22a. When the arm 22a is magnetically actuated -into its dotted line position, the two contacts come-into engagement, producing a slightwupward` deflection of the arm 22A. Such engagement persists even though the arm-22a drops down slightly to restupon Athe upper side of the circular insulating plate 28a, due to the resilient return of the arm-22A. Preferably the arm 22A is ofnonferromagnetic material. There is thereby provided a type of switch device in which both contact elements-may be insulated from ground so as to enable use of the selector relay device for controlling a plurality of circuits which may have differing reference potentials. For that type of application the plate 28 and arm 20 are insulated by the spacer 42 from shaft 10.

In the second modified form appearing in Figure 4 a contact flange 128 of cylindrical form on the periphery of plate 12S is` employed in lieu of the flat circular flange 28 on plate 28 in Figures 1 and 2. The resilient ferromagnetic switch arms 122 having ends overlapping the an'ge 128aredisposed parallel toeach other in circular seriesl arrangement extending around the ferromagnetic jacket 112 of magnetic induction coil 114. A stationary insulating disk 124 centrally apertured for journalling of ferromagnetic shaft 10 therein serves as an insulating support for arms 122 spaced apart around its periphery, the arms being held in place by insulating clamp.rings,124. The lower end portions 122"of arms 122 project below the plate 124 toI provide external circuit connecting lugs as in the preceding forms.

As in the preceding forms the uX concentrator arm 120 is rotatively connected to the plate 128 and shaft 10. A notch 132 in flange 128 adjacent the outer end of arm 120 permits the selective actuating and deactuating movement of the individual switch arms in successive order as the shaft rotates and coil 114 is either energized or deenergized at the respective positions of registry during the rotation cycle.

The cylindrical form illustrated in Figure 4 has certain advantages over the at circular plate form shown in Figure l, for example, in its potentially smaller diameter and volume of space required, the inherently smaller magnetizing force necessary for actuating the switch arms as a result of the more elcient lluX utilization, and the somewhat greater ease of servicing the device involving cleaning the switch contact faces which are more easily accessible in the cylindrical form than they are in the other form in the absence of special provisions for quick disassembly.

It will, of course, be obvious that the invention includes still otherl possible forms of moving notched barrier plates between the sides of which-control elements such as switch arms are1actuated and deactuated, so that a detailed-description of all of these should be unnecessary,

It will likewise be obvious that the uses to which the inventionmay be put, including remote control, automatic relaying and similar applications, also extend to the storage of information in binary digital form for indefinite periods of time. For instance, a relay with twenty-one contacts could storey binary numbersequivalent to over one million in the decimal system. Thus a number would be read into relay as a storage device by cycling the slotted disk-(i. e. one revolution) meantime pulsing the contact actuator in such a manner as to actuate certain contacts to represent the number one or to fail to actuate certain other contacts to representl the number zero. The order of the ones and zeroes then represent the desired number to rbe recorded. The number will remain stored until the slotted disk is again cycled. Recapitulation or reading back of the stored information by the device is then accomplished byrcycling the slotteddisk and taking note (automatically or otherwise) of the contacts which were actuated during the previous storage cyclel of rotation, by their resilient return movement.

We claim as our invention:

1. Multipole selector relay means comprising a rotatable lannular member, a plurality of magnetically actuatable switch elements comprising yferromagnetic material,

vmeans supporting said switch elements individually at locations spaced apart about the periphery of said rotatable member, and disposing such-switch elements to lap one side of said member in the unactuated positions of Such elements, yieldable return force-producing means normallymaintaining said switch arms in unactuated position. and yieldably resisting deflection thereof individually into respective actuated positions thereof lapping the opposite side of said rotatable member with such yieldable return force-producing means stressed thereby, and magnetic switch-element actuating means electrically euergizable during such rotation of said member to pass magnetic flux through an individual switch element and thereby deflect such elementv then instantaneously adjacent such magnetic actuating means into actuated position of such element, said rotatable annularmember having a restricted opening extending between opposite sides thereof permitting switch element deection therethrough to entrap the element in actuated position on the opposite side of said annular member during continued rotation thereof until reregistry of such opening with such actuated element whereupon the return force-producing meansy instantly returns such element to its unactuated vposition through such opening.

2. Multipole selector relay means defined in claim 1, wherein the individual switch elements comprise resiliently exible switch arms the resilience of which provides the return force acting on such arms.

3. Multipole selector relay means comprising a plurality of flexibly resilient ferromagnetic switch element strips, stationary means mounting said strips by corresponding ends thereof to project bodily therefrom into normal positions of the projecting ends of said strips lying in circular series relationship in the undeflected condition of said strips, said projecting strips being deflectable individually against the inherent resilient force thereof into actuated positions of their projecting ends displaced in like senses from the normal positions thereof, electromagnet means operable to scan said series of strips sequentially, and selectively energizable when in registry with any such strip for application of magnetic flux directly to said strip of an intensity producing deflection thereof into actuated position without similarly deecting adjacent strips, and strip detaining means controlled in accordance with scanning position of said electromagnet means relative to said strips, continuously holding any `deiiected strip in its actuated position while said` electromagnet means registers with any other strip and constructed and arranged to permit resilient return of a deflected strip to its normal position by reregistry of said electromagnet means therewith.

4. Multipole selector relay means comprising a rotatkable annular member, a plurality of magnetically actuatping the opposite side of said rotatable circular plate, and

magnetic switch-element actuating means electrically energizable during such rotation of said circular plate to deflect the individual switch element then instantaneously adjacent such magnetic actuating means into actuated position of such element, said rotatable circular plate having a notch in the edge thereof permitting deflection of a switch element therethrough to entrap the element in actuated position on the opposite side of said circular plate during continued rotation thereof until reregistry of such notch with such actuated element, said magnetic actuating means comprising a magnetic iiuX concentrator element maintained in registry with the notch in the rotary plate for directing magnetic flux into the adjacent switch element for deflecting such element through said notch.

5. Multipole selector relay means defined in claim 4, wherein the magnetic actuating means additionally comprises a ferromagnetic shaft concentric with the rotational axis of the rotary plate, a magnetic induction coil encircling said shaft, a toroidal ferromagnetic casing encircling said coil and having a centrally open end adjacent the rotary plate, the flux concentrator comprising a substantially radial ferromagnetic arm extending from the shaft to substantially the inner adjacent edge of the toroidal casing to overlie the radially-inner ends of the magnetically actuatable switch arms.

6. Multipole selector relay means defined in claim 5, and drive means operatively connected to the rotary plate and ux concentrator for rotating the same progressively through repeating cycles of rotation thereof, thereby permitting selective actuation of the individual switch arms in recurring sequential manner.

7. Multipole selector relay means comprising a rotatable annular member, a plurality of resiliently flexible,

position of such element, said rotatable annular member having a restricted opening therein permitting deflection of a switch arm therethrough to entrap the arm in actuated position on the opposite side of said annular member during continued rotation thereof until reregistry of such opening with such actuated arm, said magnetic actuating means comprising a magnetic flux concentrator element maintained in registry with the opening in the rotary annular member for directing magnetic flux into the adjacent switch arm for deflecting such arm throughl said opening.

8. Multipole selector relay means defined in claim 7, wherein the magnetic actuating means additionally comprises a ferromagnetic shaft concentric with the rotational aXis of the rotary annular member, a magnetic induction coil encircling said shaft, a toroidal ferromagnetic casing encircling said coil and having an open end adjacent the rotary annular member, the iiux concentrator comprising a substantially radial ferromagnetic arm extending from the shaft to substantially a location overlying but spaced appreciably from the open end edge of said casing, the switch arms lying slightly outside the rotary path of the end of the flux concentrator arm.

9. Multipole selector relay means dened in claim 8, and drive means operatively connected to the rotary annular member and flux concentrator for rotating the same progressively through repeating cycles of rotation thereof, thereby permitting selective actuation of the individual switch arms in recurring sequential manner.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,156,043 Shephard Oct. 5, 1915 1,689,294 Potts Oct. 30, 1928 1,898,762 Clokey Feb. 21, 1933 2,399,720 Brand May 7, 1946 2,612,555 Kinsman Sept. 30, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 554,096 Germany July 6, 1932 

